Jason’s bicycle-mounted food cart is illegal unless he operates from private property – mobile food vending on public streets and sidewalks is illegal in Carlisle – hence the name he uses, “Unlawful Falafel.”

This kind of battle has erupted in places from Buffalo to El Paso, from the city of New York to San Francisco. Would-be food vendors and their customers complain about government barriers to starting new business, while tax-paying restaurants complain about unfair competition from those using public spaces without paying a fair price for them.

Both sides have, pardon the expression, legitimate beefs.

On the restaurant owners’ side, Carlisle’s current policy of limiting mobile food vending to private property has a certain logic.

The restaurants pay taxes and enjoy the benefits provided by public streets, sidewalks, police and so on. The private property owner hosting the mobile vendor also pays city property taxes, so tax-wise at least, the playing field is level between the two types of food sellers.

As long as a mobile vendor on private property meets normal business licensing and food safety requirements, he can have at it in Carlisle. (There’s some question whether Jason is following those rules, or is being hassled for political reasons.)

But Jason and his fans are right — it would make Carlisle street life more vibrant if the city would loosen up a bit, and allow some food sales on the streets.

By paying a reasonable fee for permits, the mobile food vendors would help cover the cost of the public infrastructure and services they’re using. (The fee can’t be so high that it chokes off opportunity and blocks potential competition.)

Many cities have setback rules that keep mobile vendors from operating too close to restaurants. That reasonable idea can easily turn into a cudgel that wipes away potential competition. In El Paso, for example, a 1,000-foot setback – the same distance often used to establish drug-free school zones – was struck down in court.

In New York, mobile vendors need only keep 20 feet away from any restaurant door. Something closer to the New York example would be reasonable, since mobile vendors usually sell cheaper, quicker fare than sit-down restaurants. A $4 falafel is not much competition for a $25 steak, but it is competition for a storefront sandwich shop. A sensible setback rule would account for the difference.

Allowing some food trucks would help draw people out onto Carlisle streets – always a good thing for a city. It would be good for hungry customers – it gives them more choice of eats. It would open the way for new businesses to start up. With the right permit fees and setback rules, it would be fair to existing, tax-paying food businesses.

All that’s needed is the civic and political leadership that will strike the right balance between the two sides’ legitimate concerns.